A/N: Hello all! EmPoweredBeing is different this week...she's an AUNTY! WOO! Baby finally came. Little girl, 9lb 6oz (4.2KG), 52cm, born on the 6th at 1:04am in case any of you wanted to know! Name is Jaide Aurora (Don't know why they needed the i, but each to their own!)
So now I'm an Aunty and it's awesome cos she's SO cute, it's distracted me from writing! But I'm back now and we're getting on with it. Other than baby, nothing exciting is happening.
B/N: Congratulations to Aunty Em! :D Xx
A/N: My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Boston this morning after the horrific nightmare that happened this morning (my time). I can't imagine what it must be like, and I can only wish the people of Boston all the love and kind thoughts I can while they make sense of what has happened.
-0-
Despite his chat with Albus a few evenings ago, Harry found that his nightmares had returned in full force. He'd noticed on those long, lonely nights awake poring over his map that Albus and Minerva were sleeping better, usually together, and that at least made him smile.
He was so tired it was effecting his entire life. Even his máthair, who was incredibly busy herself, saw that he was suffering and cornered him one day after class.
"Mr Potter, a word if you please?" Minerva called as the rest of the students filed out. "He will be with you momentarily Mr Weasley, I assure you."
Harry had to wait for Ron to vacate the classroom, and the soft click of the lock on the door before he felt his mother's arms wrap around him. It was so comforting, so profound, the reminder that he was not alone. By rights, he should perhaps have gone to her earlier, but most of the time she looked just as tired as he felt and he didn't want to worry her.
"Oh my boy," she sighed, kissing his head. "So much turmoil."
"I'm just tired Máthair," he tried, leaning against her. "Well that, and I can't wait for this stupid tournament to be over."
"You and me both leanabh [baby]. But you forget that I can feel what you feel," she said, kissing him again, "but it will soon be over, I promise, then we can go home and spend some real time together."
"It still feels like a dream," he whispered, refusing to look at her. "The idea of going home with you. I keep having nightmares where Vernon turns up looking for me, telling me that I can't stay here anymore."
"Oh, sweetheart."
Minerva pushed him towards the front of the classroom, past her desk and through the door hidden behind a bookcase. Harry stopped paying attention and simply let her lead him, until he realised they were in her rooms.
"I want you to take a nap please," she said gently, pushing him onto the couch. "I give you permission just for this lesson and then you can go to lunch. I will tell Ron and Hermione, but you need all the rest you can get."
Harry wanted to argue, but found himself yearning for the soft comfort of her sofa, a blanket, and her scent.
"Only for you Máthair," he yawned.
She chuckled and knelt next to him as he started drifting off.
"As it should be, mo mhac [my son]." He smiled as she kissed his forehead, then his nose, giving him an Eskimo kiss as well for good measure. "I will always be here for you mo mhac [my son], daonnan [always]."
"I know," he sighed, grabbing her hand. "Tha gaol agam ort [I love you]."
"I love you too, young man. Sleep well."
As Harry snuggled further into the sofa he couldn't help but feel better already. He was surrounded by everything that reminded him of Minerva. Warmth, love, comfort and her scent. As he felt his eyelids drooping he thought that this sleep, although short, would be the best he'd had in weeks.
-0-
By the time they sat down to dinner Harry was feeling far better than he had for weeks. He even felt comfortable laughing and joking with the twins as they talked about the Third Task and what they thought it would involve.
"Can't be Dementors," Fred said, winking at George.
"Nope, can't be," George said happily.
"You've done them!" they said together.
"Can't be a werewolf," George said.
"Nope, can't be," Fred winked at Harry.
"You've done them!"
"Can't be a Basilisk," Fred quipped.
"Nope, done that."
"I suppose it could be a turban-wearing, stuttering little wimp?" Fred asked contemplatively.
"Oh, no it can't, you've done that too!" George cried, making all the students around them laugh.
Harry couldn't help but smile along with them. When they put it like that there really wasn't that much left that he hadn't already faced.
"Can't be dragons, can't be merfolk -"
"Can't be trolls, can't be acromantulas -"
"Oh!" Fred yelled, standing on the bench and beaming as everyone in the Great Hall looked at him. "YOU KNOW WHO!"
"No, no, no mate!" George said, getting up beside his twin. "He's already done that too!"
"He's UNBEATABLE!" they yelled, clapping Harry on the back as the entire Gryffindor table erupted into applause and cheers.
"Thanks guys," he said, blushing just a little as he glanced up at Minerva, who winked conspiratorially at him. "Really."
Dinner passed quickly once everyone was talking and joking again, and Harry couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement of the happiness around him. Before he could leave the hall however, he was cornered by a nervous looking Ludo Bagman, who nodded briefly to Ron and Hermione before drawing Harry away into a corner.
"Um, private meeting tonight Harry, just for the Champions. Nine o'clock down at the quidditch pitch if you would. I've told Diggory and Krum, just have to track down the Delacour girl," he said absently, scratching his chin. "Must dash."
Harry looked around in confusion to see if there was something frightening behind him, but he only saw the twins whispering together by the doors. Shrugging, Harry ran to catch up with Ron and Hermione, conveying the message to them as they walked back to the common room. They had quite a bit of homework to complete so they hunkered down immediately and got on with it. When nine o'clock came around Harry nodded to the others and left through the portrait hole, feeling very much relieved when he bumped into Albus in the corridor.
"Fancy seeing you here, Mr Potter," he said with twinkling eyes. "I assume you are going down to the meeting? I myself am on my way back to the Great Hall. I have somehow forgotten my left sock."
"Um, right," Harry said, shaking his head at the silly excuse to walk him to the doors. "Thanks Albus," he muttered quietly.
"No worries at all, my boy," the Headmaster whispered back with a wink. "Take care, your mother wouldn't forgive me if you were to do something rash."
"I'll try," Harry said with a wave, only to see Dumbledore hitching up his robes to show him his bare ankle. That man never ceased to amaze him.
He walked down to the pitch, thankful for the torches lighting the way. It was a dark night, and Harry could feel the hairs on the back of his neck sticking up. He shivered a little as the small party came into view. Krum was already there with Karkaroff in tow, as was Cedric, who looked a little uncomfortable in the company of the Belgian seeker. Harry joined them, smiling at Hagrid as he waved and made his way over from the Forbidden Forest. When Fleur finally turned up Ludo Bagman had also arrived and they all made their way to the Quidditch pitch, the three male Champions coming to an abrupt halt as they saw the usual pristine grass.
"What have they done to it?" Cedric asked, looking as shocked as Harry felt.
Criss-crossing and zig-zagging all over the turf were mounds of earth and what looked like walls of some sort. He inspected the mounds and was surprised to find they were in fact forming the beginnings of a small hedge.
"It's a maze," Harry said in wonder, looking out over the huge expanse.
"It is indeed. Give Hagrid a month or so and these beauties will be twenty feet high. But don't you worry boys, your Quidditch pitch will be back to normal as soon as we're done with it."
"A maze?" Krum grunted from behind Harry.
"That's right. It's very simple, the TriWizard Cup will be placed in the centre and you will all have to make your way through. The first one to touch the cup wins.
"That's all?" Fleur asked, looking suspicious.
"Well there will be obstacles of course," Bagman said with a grin. "Hagrid is providing a number of creatures, and there will be spells to break and all that sort of thing. The leaders of the competition will get a head start, so that means Mr Potter and Mr Diggory will enter first, followed by Mr Krum and then Miss Delacour."
Harry nodded, noticing that the others were already deep in thought. He glanced at Karkaroff and saw him rubbing his forearm while whispering something in Viktor's ear. It reminded him of the time when Karkaroff had actually dared to interrupt a Potions lesson to talk to Snape about his arm, but now that he knew Karkaroff was a former Death Eater it intrigued him even more.
"Right, well I think we'll head on back to the castle, don't you?" Bagman said, rubbing his hands together. "Bit nippy out here."
Harry was all too happy to go back to the warm common room, and was contemplating visiting his máthair on the way.
"Can I haf a vord vith you?" Krum asked, appearing beside him suddenly.
"Um, yeah sure," Harry said, shrugging at Bagman who was clearly about to offer to walk him back.
"I'll just wait for you Harry," the ex-Beater said, looking wistfully at the castle.
"No, it's okay Mr Bagman, I'll be right up."
Harry followed Krum to the edge of the forest where Krum spent a moment looking around suspiciously until he was certain they were alone.
"I vanted to ask vat is betveen you and Hermy-own-ninny?" he growled, looking menacing in the dark surroundings.
"Nothing?" Harry replied, feeling confused. From Krum's demeanor and the secrecy he seemed to want, it wasn't exactly what he'd expected the Durmstrang student to say.
"She talks about you a lot," he stated, still looking angry.
"We're just friends."
"So you've never -"
Harry laughed, shaking his head. "No, really, we're just good friends."
Krum seemed mollified at the answer, and if anything tried a sort of half smile.
"You fly good, I vas vatching the first task."
Harry felt his chest swell a little at such high praise from a great flyer.
"Thanks!" he gushed. "I saw you at the World Cup, the Wronski Feint was incredible, I mean -"
It was then that Harry heard it, a twig snapping and a soft voice muttering on the breeze. Knowing some of what could be lurking in the Forbidden Forest, Harry grabbed Krum and pulled him behind him as he dug out his wand.
"Vat is it?" Krum asked, and Harry was pleased to see he too had his wand out.
"Lumos!"
Harry squinted past the bright light from the tip of his wand and found himself looking straight at a man - a rather familiar man.
"Mr Crouch?" Harry asked, suddenly recognising the form before him.
The bedraggled wizard was clearly delusional and couldn't seem to focus. His robes were torn and bloodied and he looked as if he hadn't shaved for weeks. He also seemed to be talking to a tree of all things, and Harry felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up again.
"Isn't he von of your Ministry people?" Krum asked, moving forward to get a better look. "Vot is wrong with him?"
Harry didn't know how to answer when the man suddenly turned to him and looked even more weary.
"Dumbledore, I must speak with Dumbledore!" he wheezed, seizing the front of Harry's robes. "I've done, it's terrible, all my fault! Must. Tell. Dumbledore!" he cried, his eyes rolling in his head.
"If you can get up Mr Crouch, I'll take you to Dumbledore," Harry said gently, trying to prize the surprisingly strong fingers from his robes.
"Dumbledore!" he pleaded once more.
Harry looked helplessly at Viktor Krum, who appeared just as bewildered as he felt.
"I must, you must warn. I escaped. Bertha's dead. Made a terrible mistake, see Dumbledore, all my fault. My son! Terrible!" he kept whispering, confusing Harry even more.
As suddenly as his tirade had started it ended, with Crouch letting go of Harry and turning back to the tree, conversing with it as if he was talking in the office to Percy Weasley.
"You stay here with him and I'll get Dumbledore. I know where his office is, it'll be quicker if I go."
Krum merely nodded, apparently too engrossed in the lunatic before him to pay much attention.
"You'd better hurry," he said simply, standing guard of Crouch as Harry ran to the castle.
He burst through the doors and ran through the corridors to Albus' office, yelling the password as he went and hoping that the gargoyle would open for him so he could just sprint straight up the revolving staircase
He skidded to a halt as he stood before it, shouting 'Sherbet Lemon' again and staring at the usually agreeable gargoyle.
"Move!" he said glaring at the statue. "Please, I need to see him."
"The Headmaster is unavailable Potter, I suggest you come back at another time."
Snape. Trust him to turn up when he least wanted him to. The man hadn't really forgiven him for their run in the year before, but with Minerva's help they'd come to an uneasy truce. Harry, however, was in too much of a hurry to care right now.
"I need to see him! Crouch is in the forest, he's delirious. It's urgent."
"As I said before Potter, the Headmaster is unavailable."
Rolling his eyes Harry turned back to the gargoyle.
"Please, it's an emergency, I need to see him."
The gargoyle didn't move and Harry lost his patience. Deciding that the closest person to Albus would be his máthair, he turned around and started to run towards her office instead.
"Harry?"
In his hurry Harry had missed the moving entrance and he spun around to see Albus looking at him expectantly.
"Al-, um, Professor, Mr Crouch is in the forest, and he needs you. He's acting very strangely and I think someone may have attacked him."
"Alright Harry, quickly now."
They sped through the castle, faster than Harry had ever seen Albus move before.
"What exactly did he say Harry?" Albus asked as they made their way down to the grounds.
"Um, it wasn't really clear, but he said he made a mistake, a terrible mistake and that he needed to see you. He mentioned a Bertha someone, I think, and his son," Harry answered, noting that Albus started walking just a little quicker.
"You left him on his own?"
"No Viktor Krum is with him, he and I were talking when Crouch appeared."
"Sir, I don't know if this is relevant, but a few weeks ago, the night I saw you in the Astronomy tower in fact, I had a dream where someone escaped from a jail or a cell or something and, well my scar hurt."
Harry thought Albus paused for just a second before carrying on to the forest.
"I thought you and your mother had discussed this Harry," he said quietly. "A dream like that, one that doesn't make sense, is worthwhile telling us about."
"I didn't want you to worry."
"I know, dear boy," Albus said with a wink. "Now, where are we going?"
Harry pointed to the clearing where he had left Viktor and they walked towards it, slowing to a halt when they saw it was now empty.
"They were just here," Harry said looking around frantically.
"Harry!"
Harry rushed over to where Albus stood to find Viktor lying unconscious on the ground, but there was no sign of Crouch at all.
"Krum? Viktor?" he said, kneeling by his side. "Shall I get Madam Pomfrey?" Harry asked, moving away.
"No, Harry stay right here," Albus said, pulling Harry to his side. "Don't go anywhere please."
"Okay."
Albus sent a silvery Phoenix in the direction of the Hagrid's hut before turning back to Viktor.
"Ennervate!"
Viktor took a deep breath and opened his eyes, peering up in confusion at Harry and Albus.
"What happened?" Harry asked, taking his hand and helping the Quidditch star sit up.
"He attacked me from behind," Viktor growled, rubbing his head.
"Did you see where he went?" Albus asked, keeping his eye on the surrounding area.
"No."
"I will get Hagrid to take you back to the castle, Harry." Albus drew him away from Viktor who was still sat on the ground, looking a little dazed. "I need you to go straight back to your common room. Do not go anywhere else tonight please, and any owls you may need to send can be done tomorrow," he said, looking directly into Harry's eyes.
Harry knew he was talking about both Minerva and Sirius but he nodded nonetheless.
"I promise, Albus," he agreed solemnly.
"Hagrid, would you be so kind as to take Harry back to the common room while I wait for Alastor."
"I'm here Headmaster," a voice growled, startling Harry and he turned to see Professor Moody limped limp up beside them. "I'd have been here faster if it wasn't for my blasted leg."
"Good, off you go Harry," Albus said, leaning a bit closer so he could whisper in his ear. "Minerva will probably check on you once she knows what has happened."
He nodded and went with Hagrid in silence, creeping into the common room with a wave goodbye.
After spending a few minutes telling Hermione and Ron everything that had happened, Harry was beat, and trudged up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. Ron followed him to bed soon after and before long he was curled up under his covers with his mind going a mile a minute. He realised that he wasn't going to get any sleep that night no matter how tired he felt, so he sat up, hugging his knees to his chest.
It wasn't long before there was a disturbance at the foot of his bed where he found a small, but proud looking tabby cat with spectacle markings sat looking at him.
"Hi Máthair," he whispered.
"Oh leanabh [baby]," Minerva murmured, shimmering as she transformed back into herself. She crawled forward until she was sitting next to him and pulled him into her side. "Are you hurt?"
Harry shook his head, but didn't feel like talking. They sat in silence for a while before Minerva made him lie down, tucking him in tightly and holding him until he felt his eyes drooping.
"I love you Harry. Albus is going to take care of everything, and I'm right here. Sleep now baby, just sleep."
Feeling calmed by his mother's soothing and love-laced words, Harry snuggled closer to her and sighed as he finally felt his body relaxing.
"Love you too," he breathed, pressing his face to her cheek. Hopefully Minerva would stay for most of the night, warding off the nightmares and the terrors he usually suffered from. "Stay," he whispered, gripping her hand.
"For as long as I can, mo mhac [my son]."